Itcertainlyhas
somethinginit,but nothing oftruth.
Plato - 1701 - Works - a
'?
the
? ? 3o4
Laches:Or, ofValour.
thePatienceoftheSoultobeValour. Ileeplain ly you place Valour in the number of fine things.
Lac. Yes, without doubtj and indeed the finest that is.
Soc. Accordingly this Patience of the Soul, when accompaniedbyWisdom,isgoodandfine?
' Lac. Most certainly.
Soc. AndwhenImprudenceisitsCompanion, is it not quite contrary > Is it not then very bad and per nicious?
Lac. Without question. ,
Soc. Do youcallaperniciousthingfine?
Lac. God forbid, Socrates.
Soc. Then you'll never call that fort of Patience
bytheName ofValour,fince'tisnotfine,andValour is s o m e w h a t that's very fine ?
Lac. You fay right.
Ttrd>>im- Soc. Then,accordingtoyou,awifeandprudent frudent-Pa- Patience is W i s d o m ?
/'TXset Lac-Solthink-
gettingtf Soc. Let'sfeewhetherthisPatienceisonlypru- nuesstif. dentinsomethings,orineverythingwhethersmall
or great ? For instance, A M a n spends his Estate very 'patiently and prudently, with a firm Certainty that hisSpendingwilloneDay fetchhimgreatRiches\
WouldyoucallthisMan valiantandstout?
Lac. I would be very loth to do that, Socrates. Soc. But a Physician has a Son or some other Pa
tient lying ill of a great Inflammation in the Breast: this Son teazes him for something to eat. The Phy sicianissofarfromyieldingtohisImportunity, that he patiently bears his Complaints and his Anger ; Would you call this Physician valiant and stout ?
Socrates
TM? hsrJ~n Soc. ButasforWar. Here'saManofthatDispo
rt'thecm' ft"00 ? f Soul, we now speak of. He has a mind to mo>> prejn- sight-, and his Prudence supporting his Courage, tells dicethatan him he will quickly be reliev'd, and that his Ene-
*7irt,! di miesarer^ewea^erParty>a"dthathehasthead- '"'-I'-fcme. vantageoftheGround. ThisbraveMan,thatisthus -t/or. pru-
Lac. N o more than the other.
? ? Laches : Or, of Valour. zo$
prudent, will you make him more valiant and cou rageousthanhisEnemy,who standshisGround,not withstanding the Disadvantages he lyes under, and that without these Reflections?
Lac. No, sure;thelastisthebravest.
Soc. And, after all, the Courage of the last is far less prudent than that of the former.
Lac. That's true.
Soc, Then itfollows from your Principle, that a good Horseman, thatin a Engagement behaves him selfbravely, astrustingtohisdexterityofmanaging a Horse, is less couragious than he w h o wants that advantage.
Lac. Yes, sere.
Soc. You'll fay the fame of an Archer, a Slinger, and all the other Orders of Soldiery >
Lac. Without doubt.
Soc. And those, who, without being acquainted with the Art of Diving, have the Courage to dive a n d a r e t h e first t h a t t h r o w t h e i r H e a d s i n t o t h e W a ters, areaccordingtoyou, moreboldandcouragious than the expert divers ?
Lac. Yes, sure.
Soc. According to your Principles it must be so. Lac. And these are my Principles.
Soc. But after all, those artless and unexperienc'd
Men, encounter Danger much more imprudently than those who expose themselves with the advantage of Art.
Lac. Yes, sure.
Soc. But we concluded just now, that indiscreet Boldnels and imprudent Patience, are very scandalous and pernicious.
Lac. That's true.
Soc. Andwelook'duponValourtobeagoodand a finething.
Lac. Iownit.
Soc. But n o w it is quite contrary : W e give the Name ofValourtothisindiscreetBoldnels, thatwe- deipise so much.
,
Lac.
? ? ***"
JLar. You fay right.
Sec. But do you think itsitwe should continuein this Condition ?
Lac. No, sure.
Soc. Areyouwillingwe shouldactforonemi
nute, conformablyto the Definition we gave just
now ?
Lac. What Definitionisthat?
Soc. That true Courage, true Valour, is Patience:
Ifyoupleasethen,let'sshewourPatience, incar
rying on our Enquiry, that so Valour m a y not laugh a t u s f o r p u r s u i n g h e r w i t h o u t C o u r a g e ? , s i n c e a c
cording to our Principles, Patience is Courage. Lac. Iam willing, Socrates, and shall not atall Singh,tho'1amaNoviceinthoseDisputes. ButI mustown,I,amoutofhumourand. vex'd, thatI
cannotexplainmyThoughts. For,methinksIcon ceiveperfectlywhatValouris;and Iunderstandnow thatIdeadoessobalkme thatIcannotexplainit.
Soc. But, Laches, a good Huntsman ought always to run after the Beast he persues, and not to weary himselfin runaingat every thing he sees.
Ldc. Iagreetoit.
Soc. Are you willing we should call Nkias to hunt with us, to tryif he'll have any better For tune?
Lac With allmy Heart, why not?
Soc. Come then, Nkias, come and help yOur Friends, if you can, w h o are in a fad quandiry, and know not what hand to turn to: You fee what
2(C)9 Laches: Or,ofValour,
Lac. Iownit. ,. :
Soc. Anddoyouthinkitiswelldone? Lac. I a m not such a Fool, Socrates,
rbermst Soc. Thus,Laches, byyourownPrinciples, you ferfeaiore,andIarenotupontheFoot oftheDorick Tone. a>>dthemostporourActionsdonotagreeWithourWords. If ? w%of onet00kavjewofourActions,Ipresumehewould
JSSfiy weareMenofCourage: butifheheard
tmsani ourWords;hewouldquicklychangehisSend- Wordsareo/mentS. ,- ,
Condi-
? ? Laches: Ot,ofValour. 207
Conditionwe arein? ,andhow impossibleitisfor
ustogetclearofit; Pray,rescueus,bygivingus toknowwhatValouris,andproving it.
Nic. 1thoughtallalongthatyoudefin'dthisVer- tueamiss. Howconiesittopass,Socrates,that you do not upon this Occasion make use of what I have heard you speak so often and so well ?
Soc. What'sthat,Nicias?
Nic. Ihaveoften heard youfay,thataManis dexterous at the Things, he knows, but very unhap pyatwhathedoesnotknow.
Soc. That's very true.
Nic. And by Consequence, ifavaliant Man be goodatanything,he'sgoodatwhatheknows.
Soc. DoyouhearhimLaches?
Lac. Yes, I hear him : But I do not well under stand what he means.
Soc. But,methinks,Iperceivehismeaning. AsI take it,he means that Valour isa Science.
Lac. What Science,Socrates? Soc. Whydonotyouaskhim?
Lac. I desire the lame Favour of him. Soc. Nicias, answerLachesalittle,andtellhim
w h a t S c i e n c e V a l o u r i s i n y o u r O p i n i o n ? , f o r ' t i s n e i ther the Science of playing upon the Flute, nor that of playing upon the Harp.
Nic. No, surely.
Soc. What isitthen? And whatistheSubject ofit?
Lac. You ask him very well Socrates $ let him tell us then what Science it is ?
Nic. I fay, Laches, that it is the * Science of
* Tildas himself knew not all the strength of this Definiti on, he understood only that Valour was the effect of Expe rienceandCustom. ForExample,Men whohaverunthro' manyDangers,arecommonlymoreValiantthanthosewho
had never seen any ; for as they have already escap'd those Dangers, they- believe that they may likewise overcome all others. ThisistheSentimentofTiiciat,butitisnotthatof Socrataiwho fromhisDefinitiondraws aPrinciple farmore Excellent, as will be seen by what follows.
things
? ? 2o8 ? Laches: Ot, ofValom.
^thiril Thingsthatareterrible,andofthosethatdonot DefinitionsurpassourStrength,andinwhichonemay shew ofvalour, a stedfastness, whether it be in War, or in the other whchaloneContingenciesofLife. .
'Z'SZ Lac- A stranSeDefinition,Socrates!
ideaofit. Soc. Whydoyouthinkitsostrange>
Seethegf- Lac. Why,becauseScienceandvalouraretwo
mark.
very different Things.
Soc. Nicias pretends they are not.
Lac. Yes, he pretends it, and therein he dotes. Soc. GoodGod,letus endeavourtoinstructhim;
Reproaches are not Reasons.
Nic. He has no design to abuse me, but he wishes
that what I have said may be of no weight, be cause he himself is deceived all along.
Lac. Itistheverytruth,and I(halldieofGrief, or make it appear that you have not spoke better thanI. Withoutgoinganyfurther,don'tthePhysici ansknow whatthereisthat'sdangerousinDiseases? Do the most valiant Men know it better? Or do you callthe Physicians valiant Men ?
Nic. No, surely.
Lac. Neither do you give that N a m e to Labour ers;yettheyknow whatitisthat'smostterrible, in their Labour. It is the fame with all other Tradesmen, they all know very well what it is that ismost terribleintheir Profession,and what itis thatmay givethemAssurance andConfidence;but theyarenotthemore valiantforthat.
Soc. What fay you, Nicias, of that Criticism ofLachesj1For my partIthinkthere'ssomething in it.
Nic.
Itcertainlyhas somethinginit,but nothing oftruth.
Soc. Howso?
Nic. How? because he thinks that Physicians know not any thing more of Diseases,than to lay that a Thing is healthful or unhealthful : 'Tis very cer
t a i n t h a t t h e y k n o w n o t h i n g m o r e o f it : F o r , i n g o o d earnest, Laches, do you imagine that the Physician v knows
? ? Laches : Or> of Valoar. '209
knows whether his Patienthas more reasontd be^<><<>-<< afraid of Health or of Sickness? And don't. youTMnTMfrht
thinkthatthereareabundanceofSicktowhom it^Jt^ would be more advantagious hot tobe cured than\mibuor to be cureii ? Dare you fay that it is always good notterrible, to live, and that there are not abundance os' Peo b? h"^? . ft
pie to whom it would be more Advantagious to/T/^""^
die? . greatTrin- L a c . I a m p e r s u a d e d t h a t t h e r e a r e s o m e P e o p l e c ? e '?
whowouldbemorehappyroadie: - \v''':". ''
Nic. And do you think that the Things that seem
terrible to those who wduld willingly live, appear
thesametothosewhohadratherdie. Lac:No,dbubtlels. r? ? '? )J-?
Nic. And who will ybu/ be'judged by on thele Occasions > The Physicians ? They don't in the least leeintoit. PeopleofotherProfessions,theyknow nothingoftheMatter. Itbelongsthenonlytothose
who areskilfulintheScienceofterribleThingst A n d 'tis thole w h o m I call ,Valiant.
Soc. Laches, do you fcnd,erstand what Nicidf fays? '<':'? '
Lac. Yes; I understand that according to' hisrec- J">we<<<<^ koning there is none Valiant but Prophets. Voi^s^ets>>
who elsebut a Prophet can know ifitbe more ad-forej-eetu vantagioustodiethantolive? AndIwouldask? ? </*to you Nicias, * Are you a Prophet ? If you be not, fare- c6w*
well to your Valour.
Nic. How then? Do you thinkthatitIsthebu
sinessofaProphettoknow himselfinThingsthat
are terrible, and in those wherein he can shew sted-
fastness?
Lac. Without doubt ? , and whose Business is it
else ?
Nic. Whose? His ofwhom Ispeak, the valiant
Man ; for the Business of a Prophet, is only to
*LachesjeersTildashereinobscureTermSj becauseofhis Respect to the Diviners j for as he was a very religious Man, he had a great Respect for all Diviners, and kept one always in His House. '
O o * know
? ? alo
W < :OhofVd<W*
? knowtheSignsofThingsthataretohappen,asof Deaths, Diseases, Losses, Defeats and Victories, w h i theritbeinWar orinotherCombats:And do you think,thatitismoreproperforhimthanforano therMantojudgewhichofallthoseAccidentsare moreorlessadvantagioustothisMan ortothat? Never had any Prophet the least thought of such a thing.
Lac. Truly, Socrates, I cannot comprehend his Meaning ; for, according to his Account, there is neither Prophet, nor Physician, nor any other ibrt of Men, to w h o m the N a m e of Valiant can be ap
plicable. ThisvaliantPerson,ofwhomhehasan T/;>>W;d>>tIdea,mustthenbeaGod. Bus,totellyou my Man itnotaThoughts, Nicias has not the Courage to confess, God, ? *tfethat he knows not what he lays* he only quibbles
""dTpporiand*&"? # concealhisConfusion. We couldhave "ed' b y G o d . " d o n e a s m u c h , y o u a n d I , i f w e h a d h a d n o t h i n g else in view but to hide the Contradictions w e fall into. IfwewerebeforeaJudge,thisConductmight perhapsbereasonable. TisaPieceofCunningto intangle a bad Cause } but in Conversation, like ours, to what purpose is it to endeavour to triumph by
c- . ^,
vain Discourse? .
Soc. Certainly that is a very ill thing : But let us
fee ifNicias does not pretend to lay something to the . purpose,andwhetheryoudon'tinjurehimbyaccu
singhimoftalkingmeerlyfortalkingsfake. Letus desire him to explain his thought to us more clear lyiand, ifwe findthathehasreasononhisside,we willbeofhismipd;ifnot,wewillendeavourto ipeak better.
Lac. Ask him your self, Socrates, if you please -, I have ask'd Questions enough of him.
Soc. I will do itj I will argue with him for you andmetoo.
Lac. If you please.
Soc. Tell me, I pray you, Nicias, or rather tell us,forIIpeakalsoforLaches,Do youmaintain, that Valour is the knowledge of things that are ter
rible
? ? Lion of 2{eibe<<,
Laches: Or, ofValom 211
ribleandofthingsinwhichonemay testinesome assurance and confidence ? - ?
Nic. Yes,Idomaintainit*
Soc. You maintain also, that this Knowledge isit << >><<
n o t g i v e n t o a l l f o r t s o f P e o p l e , s e e i n g i t i s n o t k n o w n * >> << w >> *<* neither to the Physicians nor to the Prophets, and Thfi-^f
thatyetnobodycanbevaliantwithoutthisKnow-ZfzZZt ledge. Isnotthiswhatyousaid? ,. itTrophta Nic. Yes, doubtless. *ss>>d>.
Soc. ThenwemayapplytheProverbinthisCase: That itis not thefame of every wild Sowi every wild Spw is not valiant and couragious.
'Nic. No, surely.
Soc. Itisevidentby this, Nicias, thatyouareful
lyperlwaded,thatthewild*SowofCrommionwas not couragious, whatever the Ancients have said of her. Idonottellyouthisinjest,butingoodear nest 5 he, w h o speaks as you, must not of necessity admit of any Courage in Beasts, or grant, that the Lions^eopatds,Boars,know many things which most Men areignorantof,becauseoftheirbeingtoo diffi cult. Besides,hewho maintains,thatValouriswhat
you lay it is, must also maintain, that Lions, Bulls*
Harts, Foxes, are born equally valiant one with ano ther. ? ;j;?
Lac. By allthat'ssacred, Socrates, you speak to admiration. Tellusthentruly,Nicias,doyoube lieve,thatBeasts,whicharegenerallyretkon'dfjjlt of Courage , are more understanding than we, or dare you go against the common Opinion}and main tain, that they have not Courage? ? . '
Nic. I tell you in a word , Laches , that I don't callneitherBeastnorMan, noranythingwhatever, that, through imprudence and ignorauce, fears not
. , * T h e A i n i o f S o c r a t e s i s t o t r y 2 { W << i a r t d t o f l t a k e h i m i n his Opiriion by making him tear that his Principle would hurttheirReligion;forifthewildSow oiCrommionhadnot been valiant and couragious, Theseus is not so great a Hero for having overcome her , nor Hercules for having defeated the
'
Do J* the
,
? ? led.
* Wisdom and-Prudence were the true Character of 2\Ji'-
cias, w h o undertook nothing but where he saw at least an ap
parent Safety, and who, by Waiting for Opportunities to act
safely, did often let them flip j which begot him the Chara
cter of a cowardly Man: however, he undertook things well
and executed 'em better, performing his part always well. ? f L a c b e > s p e a k s l i k e o n e t h a t ' s a l i t t l e t o u c h ' d , f o r h e w o u l d
fay, that he could answer THjciasthat he isnot valiant, because he is too prudent and too wife : As indeed the Poets them selvestaxedhisPrudencewithCowardice. . .
|TheGreekCopyfays,testyoushouldtakemeforaManof the Tribe of Aixionidts : For the People of that Tribe were much cry'Jdown fortheirrailingTemper and illNature.
312
Laches: Or, 0s Valotir.
the things that are terrible, valiant and couragious j butIcallthen? fearlessandsensless! Alas! Do you think, thatIcallallChildren, Who, throughimpru dence,fearnodanger,valiantandcouragious? In
my Opinion, to be wkhout fear,,and to be valiant, aretwovery differentthings:There isnothing more rare than Valour accompanied with Prudence, and nothing more common than Boldness, Audaciousness
-and Intrepidity accompanied with Imprudence: for itisthepropertyofmostMenandWomen, ofall BeastsandChildren. Inaword,thosewhomyou
*and most People call Valiant, I call Rash and Fool
hardy, and I give the N a m e of Valiant only to those
who arePrudentandWise;theseonly are thePer
sons I mean. ForNicias:? ac. j)0voufg^Socrates,*how he offersIn-
pmthfxandcense t0 himself, as if he were the only valiant yerywije. Man;forhestrivestoroballthole,whopassfoi
Seethe Re-such, of that Gloty.
mark ? ? JV/f. That is none of m y design, Laches, do not
Lamachus F011 *Kt y0Ur * ^ * know tliat y0U anC* ^amac^us whorvasGe-Mzprudentandwiseifyoubevaliant. Ifaythe
nerdofdefame ofmany ofour'-Athenians.
Athenians L3CtfTho51couldansweryouinyourownCoin, W Alci-SyetlwiUnot>lesty? QfoTM1*accuseme 1ofbeing
biades<<>> ill-natur'dandfoul-mouth'd.
theExpedi- ? Soc. Don't fay so. Laches, I see plainly1 you do
tionofski-not perceive that Nicias hath learned these fine iy, where s *
i things
? ? Laches: Or, of Valour. 3:13
thingsofourFriendDamon,andthatDamonisthe intimate Friend oSHrodicus the ablest of all the So phists for that kind of Distinctions.
Lac. Oh, Socrates, itbecomesaSophistverywell to make Ostentation of his vain Subtilties; but for a ManlikeNicias,whomtheAthenianshavechosen f0 fitattheHelm of theRepublick
Soc. MydearLaches,itwellbecomesaManwho hathsogreatAffairsupon hisHands,tostudytobe more learned and more wife than others; wherefore I-thinkthatNiciasdeservestobeheard, and thatwe ought at least to enquire into his Reasons why he defines Valour thus.
Lac. Enquire then as much as you please, So crates.
Soc. 'TiswhatIamgoingtodo;butdon'tthink that I acquit you of it, and that you sliall not assist meinsomethings:Listenalittlethen,andtake heedto'WhatIamgoingtofay.
Lac. I stiall do so, since it pleases you.
Soc. That issofarwell:Now come on, Nicias-, Eray you tell us, in resuming the Matter from the eginning ; Is it not true, that at first w e considered
Valour * as a part of Virtue?
Nic 'Tistrue.
Sac. Did not you answer, that Valour was certain
ly but one part, and that there were other parts, whichalltogetherwerecalledbytheName ofVir tue ?
Nic. How couldIfayotherwise?
Soc. You say then as I do: for, besides Valour, I acknowledge there are other parts of Virtue, as Temperance, Justice, and many others? , don't you
also acknowledge them ?
Nic. DoubtlessIdo.
Soc. That's good, we are agreed upon this Point:
* Socrates would prove, that Virtue being one, he, w h o has
not all the parts that compose it, cannot brag of being vir tuous. m T
003 Let
? ? ai$
Ladies: Or, of Vahw.
Let us go then to thoie things which you call ter
rible? ,andwhereinyoufayaManmayshewsome
A s s u r a n c e a n d C o n f i d e n c e ; let u s e x a m i n e t h e m w e l l ,
lest it happen that you understand them one w a y a n d w e a n o t h e r ? , w e a r e g o i n g t o t e l l y o u w h a t w e
thinkofthem. Ifyoudon'tagreewithusyouwill correctus. We believethethingswhichyou call
terrible are iuch as inspire People with Terror and Fear? ,andthatthosewhereinyousaywemay shew
some Assurance are such as do not inspire us with thatFear: Now thosethatcauseFear,areneither things that have already happened, nor things that actuallyhappen,butsuchaswe expectj forFear
isonlytheExpectationofanEviltocome. Are notyouofthisOpinion,Laches? >>-:<<? ? ? -> *? -
Lac. Yes,yesperfectly.
Soc. ThisthenisourSentiment,Nicks. Bythose things that are terrible, we understand the Evils to come j and by the things wherein one may shew some assurance, we understand those things which arealsotocome, and which appear good, or,at least,don'tappeartobeil* Do youadmitourDe> finition or not? > ,;. . . :. -.
Nic. Yes, yes, I admit it.
Soc. Then it is the Knowledge ofthose things whichyoucallValour? . ? . -. . <? ? ;<?
? ? 3o4
Laches:Or, ofValour.
thePatienceoftheSoultobeValour. Ileeplain ly you place Valour in the number of fine things.
Lac. Yes, without doubtj and indeed the finest that is.
Soc. Accordingly this Patience of the Soul, when accompaniedbyWisdom,isgoodandfine?
' Lac. Most certainly.
Soc. AndwhenImprudenceisitsCompanion, is it not quite contrary > Is it not then very bad and per nicious?
Lac. Without question. ,
Soc. Do youcallaperniciousthingfine?
Lac. God forbid, Socrates.
Soc. Then you'll never call that fort of Patience
bytheName ofValour,fince'tisnotfine,andValour is s o m e w h a t that's very fine ?
Lac. You fay right.
Ttrd>>im- Soc. Then,accordingtoyou,awifeandprudent frudent-Pa- Patience is W i s d o m ?
/'TXset Lac-Solthink-
gettingtf Soc. Let'sfeewhetherthisPatienceisonlypru- nuesstif. dentinsomethings,orineverythingwhethersmall
or great ? For instance, A M a n spends his Estate very 'patiently and prudently, with a firm Certainty that hisSpendingwilloneDay fetchhimgreatRiches\
WouldyoucallthisMan valiantandstout?
Lac. I would be very loth to do that, Socrates. Soc. But a Physician has a Son or some other Pa
tient lying ill of a great Inflammation in the Breast: this Son teazes him for something to eat. The Phy sicianissofarfromyieldingtohisImportunity, that he patiently bears his Complaints and his Anger ; Would you call this Physician valiant and stout ?
Socrates
TM? hsrJ~n Soc. ButasforWar. Here'saManofthatDispo
rt'thecm' ft"00 ? f Soul, we now speak of. He has a mind to mo>> prejn- sight-, and his Prudence supporting his Courage, tells dicethatan him he will quickly be reliev'd, and that his Ene-
*7irt,! di miesarer^ewea^erParty>a"dthathehasthead- '"'-I'-fcme. vantageoftheGround. ThisbraveMan,thatisthus -t/or. pru-
Lac. N o more than the other.
? ? Laches : Or, of Valour. zo$
prudent, will you make him more valiant and cou rageousthanhisEnemy,who standshisGround,not withstanding the Disadvantages he lyes under, and that without these Reflections?
Lac. No, sure;thelastisthebravest.
Soc. And, after all, the Courage of the last is far less prudent than that of the former.
Lac. That's true.
Soc, Then itfollows from your Principle, that a good Horseman, thatin a Engagement behaves him selfbravely, astrustingtohisdexterityofmanaging a Horse, is less couragious than he w h o wants that advantage.
Lac. Yes, sere.
Soc. You'll fay the fame of an Archer, a Slinger, and all the other Orders of Soldiery >
Lac. Without doubt.
Soc. And those, who, without being acquainted with the Art of Diving, have the Courage to dive a n d a r e t h e first t h a t t h r o w t h e i r H e a d s i n t o t h e W a ters, areaccordingtoyou, moreboldandcouragious than the expert divers ?
Lac. Yes, sure.
Soc. According to your Principles it must be so. Lac. And these are my Principles.
Soc. But after all, those artless and unexperienc'd
Men, encounter Danger much more imprudently than those who expose themselves with the advantage of Art.
Lac. Yes, sure.
Soc. But we concluded just now, that indiscreet Boldnels and imprudent Patience, are very scandalous and pernicious.
Lac. That's true.
Soc. Andwelook'duponValourtobeagoodand a finething.
Lac. Iownit.
Soc. But n o w it is quite contrary : W e give the Name ofValourtothisindiscreetBoldnels, thatwe- deipise so much.
,
Lac.
? ? ***"
JLar. You fay right.
Sec. But do you think itsitwe should continuein this Condition ?
Lac. No, sure.
Soc. Areyouwillingwe shouldactforonemi
nute, conformablyto the Definition we gave just
now ?
Lac. What Definitionisthat?
Soc. That true Courage, true Valour, is Patience:
Ifyoupleasethen,let'sshewourPatience, incar
rying on our Enquiry, that so Valour m a y not laugh a t u s f o r p u r s u i n g h e r w i t h o u t C o u r a g e ? , s i n c e a c
cording to our Principles, Patience is Courage. Lac. Iam willing, Socrates, and shall not atall Singh,tho'1amaNoviceinthoseDisputes. ButI mustown,I,amoutofhumourand. vex'd, thatI
cannotexplainmyThoughts. For,methinksIcon ceiveperfectlywhatValouris;and Iunderstandnow thatIdeadoessobalkme thatIcannotexplainit.
Soc. But, Laches, a good Huntsman ought always to run after the Beast he persues, and not to weary himselfin runaingat every thing he sees.
Ldc. Iagreetoit.
Soc. Are you willing we should call Nkias to hunt with us, to tryif he'll have any better For tune?
Lac With allmy Heart, why not?
Soc. Come then, Nkias, come and help yOur Friends, if you can, w h o are in a fad quandiry, and know not what hand to turn to: You fee what
2(C)9 Laches: Or,ofValour,
Lac. Iownit. ,. :
Soc. Anddoyouthinkitiswelldone? Lac. I a m not such a Fool, Socrates,
rbermst Soc. Thus,Laches, byyourownPrinciples, you ferfeaiore,andIarenotupontheFoot oftheDorick Tone. a>>dthemostporourActionsdonotagreeWithourWords. If ? w%of onet00kavjewofourActions,Ipresumehewould
JSSfiy weareMenofCourage: butifheheard
tmsani ourWords;hewouldquicklychangehisSend- Wordsareo/mentS. ,- ,
Condi-
? ? Laches: Ot,ofValour. 207
Conditionwe arein? ,andhow impossibleitisfor
ustogetclearofit; Pray,rescueus,bygivingus toknowwhatValouris,andproving it.
Nic. 1thoughtallalongthatyoudefin'dthisVer- tueamiss. Howconiesittopass,Socrates,that you do not upon this Occasion make use of what I have heard you speak so often and so well ?
Soc. What'sthat,Nicias?
Nic. Ihaveoften heard youfay,thataManis dexterous at the Things, he knows, but very unhap pyatwhathedoesnotknow.
Soc. That's very true.
Nic. And by Consequence, ifavaliant Man be goodatanything,he'sgoodatwhatheknows.
Soc. DoyouhearhimLaches?
Lac. Yes, I hear him : But I do not well under stand what he means.
Soc. But,methinks,Iperceivehismeaning. AsI take it,he means that Valour isa Science.
Lac. What Science,Socrates? Soc. Whydonotyouaskhim?
Lac. I desire the lame Favour of him. Soc. Nicias, answerLachesalittle,andtellhim
w h a t S c i e n c e V a l o u r i s i n y o u r O p i n i o n ? , f o r ' t i s n e i ther the Science of playing upon the Flute, nor that of playing upon the Harp.
Nic. No, surely.
Soc. What isitthen? And whatistheSubject ofit?
Lac. You ask him very well Socrates $ let him tell us then what Science it is ?
Nic. I fay, Laches, that it is the * Science of
* Tildas himself knew not all the strength of this Definiti on, he understood only that Valour was the effect of Expe rienceandCustom. ForExample,Men whohaverunthro' manyDangers,arecommonlymoreValiantthanthosewho
had never seen any ; for as they have already escap'd those Dangers, they- believe that they may likewise overcome all others. ThisistheSentimentofTiiciat,butitisnotthatof Socrataiwho fromhisDefinitiondraws aPrinciple farmore Excellent, as will be seen by what follows.
things
? ? 2o8 ? Laches: Ot, ofValom.
^thiril Thingsthatareterrible,andofthosethatdonot DefinitionsurpassourStrength,andinwhichonemay shew ofvalour, a stedfastness, whether it be in War, or in the other whchaloneContingenciesofLife. .
'Z'SZ Lac- A stranSeDefinition,Socrates!
ideaofit. Soc. Whydoyouthinkitsostrange>
Seethegf- Lac. Why,becauseScienceandvalouraretwo
mark.
very different Things.
Soc. Nicias pretends they are not.
Lac. Yes, he pretends it, and therein he dotes. Soc. GoodGod,letus endeavourtoinstructhim;
Reproaches are not Reasons.
Nic. He has no design to abuse me, but he wishes
that what I have said may be of no weight, be cause he himself is deceived all along.
Lac. Itistheverytruth,and I(halldieofGrief, or make it appear that you have not spoke better thanI. Withoutgoinganyfurther,don'tthePhysici ansknow whatthereisthat'sdangerousinDiseases? Do the most valiant Men know it better? Or do you callthe Physicians valiant Men ?
Nic. No, surely.
Lac. Neither do you give that N a m e to Labour ers;yettheyknow whatitisthat'smostterrible, in their Labour. It is the fame with all other Tradesmen, they all know very well what it is that ismost terribleintheir Profession,and what itis thatmay givethemAssurance andConfidence;but theyarenotthemore valiantforthat.
Soc. What fay you, Nicias, of that Criticism ofLachesj1For my partIthinkthere'ssomething in it.
Nic.
Itcertainlyhas somethinginit,but nothing oftruth.
Soc. Howso?
Nic. How? because he thinks that Physicians know not any thing more of Diseases,than to lay that a Thing is healthful or unhealthful : 'Tis very cer
t a i n t h a t t h e y k n o w n o t h i n g m o r e o f it : F o r , i n g o o d earnest, Laches, do you imagine that the Physician v knows
? ? Laches : Or> of Valoar. '209
knows whether his Patienthas more reasontd be^<><<>-<< afraid of Health or of Sickness? And don't. youTMnTMfrht
thinkthatthereareabundanceofSicktowhom it^Jt^ would be more advantagious hot tobe cured than\mibuor to be cureii ? Dare you fay that it is always good notterrible, to live, and that there are not abundance os' Peo b? h"^? . ft
pie to whom it would be more Advantagious to/T/^""^
die? . greatTrin- L a c . I a m p e r s u a d e d t h a t t h e r e a r e s o m e P e o p l e c ? e '?
whowouldbemorehappyroadie: - \v''':". ''
Nic. And do you think that the Things that seem
terrible to those who wduld willingly live, appear
thesametothosewhohadratherdie. Lac:No,dbubtlels. r? ? '? )J-?
Nic. And who will ybu/ be'judged by on thele Occasions > The Physicians ? They don't in the least leeintoit. PeopleofotherProfessions,theyknow nothingoftheMatter. Itbelongsthenonlytothose
who areskilfulintheScienceofterribleThingst A n d 'tis thole w h o m I call ,Valiant.
Soc. Laches, do you fcnd,erstand what Nicidf fays? '<':'? '
Lac. Yes; I understand that according to' hisrec- J">we<<<<^ koning there is none Valiant but Prophets. Voi^s^ets>>
who elsebut a Prophet can know ifitbe more ad-forej-eetu vantagioustodiethantolive? AndIwouldask? ? </*to you Nicias, * Are you a Prophet ? If you be not, fare- c6w*
well to your Valour.
Nic. How then? Do you thinkthatitIsthebu
sinessofaProphettoknow himselfinThingsthat
are terrible, and in those wherein he can shew sted-
fastness?
Lac. Without doubt ? , and whose Business is it
else ?
Nic. Whose? His ofwhom Ispeak, the valiant
Man ; for the Business of a Prophet, is only to
*LachesjeersTildashereinobscureTermSj becauseofhis Respect to the Diviners j for as he was a very religious Man, he had a great Respect for all Diviners, and kept one always in His House. '
O o * know
? ? alo
W < :OhofVd<W*
? knowtheSignsofThingsthataretohappen,asof Deaths, Diseases, Losses, Defeats and Victories, w h i theritbeinWar orinotherCombats:And do you think,thatitismoreproperforhimthanforano therMantojudgewhichofallthoseAccidentsare moreorlessadvantagioustothisMan ortothat? Never had any Prophet the least thought of such a thing.
Lac. Truly, Socrates, I cannot comprehend his Meaning ; for, according to his Account, there is neither Prophet, nor Physician, nor any other ibrt of Men, to w h o m the N a m e of Valiant can be ap
plicable. ThisvaliantPerson,ofwhomhehasan T/;>>W;d>>tIdea,mustthenbeaGod. Bus,totellyou my Man itnotaThoughts, Nicias has not the Courage to confess, God, ? *tfethat he knows not what he lays* he only quibbles
""dTpporiand*&"? # concealhisConfusion. We couldhave "ed' b y G o d . " d o n e a s m u c h , y o u a n d I , i f w e h a d h a d n o t h i n g else in view but to hide the Contradictions w e fall into. IfwewerebeforeaJudge,thisConductmight perhapsbereasonable. TisaPieceofCunningto intangle a bad Cause } but in Conversation, like ours, to what purpose is it to endeavour to triumph by
c- . ^,
vain Discourse? .
Soc. Certainly that is a very ill thing : But let us
fee ifNicias does not pretend to lay something to the . purpose,andwhetheryoudon'tinjurehimbyaccu
singhimoftalkingmeerlyfortalkingsfake. Letus desire him to explain his thought to us more clear lyiand, ifwe findthathehasreasononhisside,we willbeofhismipd;ifnot,wewillendeavourto ipeak better.
Lac. Ask him your self, Socrates, if you please -, I have ask'd Questions enough of him.
Soc. I will do itj I will argue with him for you andmetoo.
Lac. If you please.
Soc. Tell me, I pray you, Nicias, or rather tell us,forIIpeakalsoforLaches,Do youmaintain, that Valour is the knowledge of things that are ter
rible
? ? Lion of 2{eibe<<,
Laches: Or, ofValom 211
ribleandofthingsinwhichonemay testinesome assurance and confidence ? - ?
Nic. Yes,Idomaintainit*
Soc. You maintain also, that this Knowledge isit << >><<
n o t g i v e n t o a l l f o r t s o f P e o p l e , s e e i n g i t i s n o t k n o w n * >> << w >> *<* neither to the Physicians nor to the Prophets, and Thfi-^f
thatyetnobodycanbevaliantwithoutthisKnow-ZfzZZt ledge. Isnotthiswhatyousaid? ,. itTrophta Nic. Yes, doubtless. *ss>>d>.
Soc. ThenwemayapplytheProverbinthisCase: That itis not thefame of every wild Sowi every wild Spw is not valiant and couragious.
'Nic. No, surely.
Soc. Itisevidentby this, Nicias, thatyouareful
lyperlwaded,thatthewild*SowofCrommionwas not couragious, whatever the Ancients have said of her. Idonottellyouthisinjest,butingoodear nest 5 he, w h o speaks as you, must not of necessity admit of any Courage in Beasts, or grant, that the Lions^eopatds,Boars,know many things which most Men areignorantof,becauseoftheirbeingtoo diffi cult. Besides,hewho maintains,thatValouriswhat
you lay it is, must also maintain, that Lions, Bulls*
Harts, Foxes, are born equally valiant one with ano ther. ? ;j;?
Lac. By allthat'ssacred, Socrates, you speak to admiration. Tellusthentruly,Nicias,doyoube lieve,thatBeasts,whicharegenerallyretkon'dfjjlt of Courage , are more understanding than we, or dare you go against the common Opinion}and main tain, that they have not Courage? ? . '
Nic. I tell you in a word , Laches , that I don't callneitherBeastnorMan, noranythingwhatever, that, through imprudence and ignorauce, fears not
. , * T h e A i n i o f S o c r a t e s i s t o t r y 2 { W << i a r t d t o f l t a k e h i m i n his Opiriion by making him tear that his Principle would hurttheirReligion;forifthewildSow oiCrommionhadnot been valiant and couragious, Theseus is not so great a Hero for having overcome her , nor Hercules for having defeated the
'
Do J* the
,
? ? led.
* Wisdom and-Prudence were the true Character of 2\Ji'-
cias, w h o undertook nothing but where he saw at least an ap
parent Safety, and who, by Waiting for Opportunities to act
safely, did often let them flip j which begot him the Chara
cter of a cowardly Man: however, he undertook things well
and executed 'em better, performing his part always well. ? f L a c b e > s p e a k s l i k e o n e t h a t ' s a l i t t l e t o u c h ' d , f o r h e w o u l d
fay, that he could answer THjciasthat he isnot valiant, because he is too prudent and too wife : As indeed the Poets them selvestaxedhisPrudencewithCowardice. . .
|TheGreekCopyfays,testyoushouldtakemeforaManof the Tribe of Aixionidts : For the People of that Tribe were much cry'Jdown fortheirrailingTemper and illNature.
312
Laches: Or, 0s Valotir.
the things that are terrible, valiant and couragious j butIcallthen? fearlessandsensless! Alas! Do you think, thatIcallallChildren, Who, throughimpru dence,fearnodanger,valiantandcouragious? In
my Opinion, to be wkhout fear,,and to be valiant, aretwovery differentthings:There isnothing more rare than Valour accompanied with Prudence, and nothing more common than Boldness, Audaciousness
-and Intrepidity accompanied with Imprudence: for itisthepropertyofmostMenandWomen, ofall BeastsandChildren. Inaword,thosewhomyou
*and most People call Valiant, I call Rash and Fool
hardy, and I give the N a m e of Valiant only to those
who arePrudentandWise;theseonly are thePer
sons I mean. ForNicias:? ac. j)0voufg^Socrates,*how he offersIn-
pmthfxandcense t0 himself, as if he were the only valiant yerywije. Man;forhestrivestoroballthole,whopassfoi
Seethe Re-such, of that Gloty.
mark ? ? JV/f. That is none of m y design, Laches, do not
Lamachus F011 *Kt y0Ur * ^ * know tliat y0U anC* ^amac^us whorvasGe-Mzprudentandwiseifyoubevaliant. Ifaythe
nerdofdefame ofmany ofour'-Athenians.
Athenians L3CtfTho51couldansweryouinyourownCoin, W Alci-SyetlwiUnot>lesty? QfoTM1*accuseme 1ofbeing
biades<<>> ill-natur'dandfoul-mouth'd.
theExpedi- ? Soc. Don't fay so. Laches, I see plainly1 you do
tionofski-not perceive that Nicias hath learned these fine iy, where s *
i things
? ? Laches: Or, of Valour. 3:13
thingsofourFriendDamon,andthatDamonisthe intimate Friend oSHrodicus the ablest of all the So phists for that kind of Distinctions.
Lac. Oh, Socrates, itbecomesaSophistverywell to make Ostentation of his vain Subtilties; but for a ManlikeNicias,whomtheAthenianshavechosen f0 fitattheHelm of theRepublick
Soc. MydearLaches,itwellbecomesaManwho hathsogreatAffairsupon hisHands,tostudytobe more learned and more wife than others; wherefore I-thinkthatNiciasdeservestobeheard, and thatwe ought at least to enquire into his Reasons why he defines Valour thus.
Lac. Enquire then as much as you please, So crates.
Soc. 'TiswhatIamgoingtodo;butdon'tthink that I acquit you of it, and that you sliall not assist meinsomethings:Listenalittlethen,andtake heedto'WhatIamgoingtofay.
Lac. I stiall do so, since it pleases you.
Soc. That issofarwell:Now come on, Nicias-, Eray you tell us, in resuming the Matter from the eginning ; Is it not true, that at first w e considered
Valour * as a part of Virtue?
Nic 'Tistrue.
Sac. Did not you answer, that Valour was certain
ly but one part, and that there were other parts, whichalltogetherwerecalledbytheName ofVir tue ?
Nic. How couldIfayotherwise?
Soc. You say then as I do: for, besides Valour, I acknowledge there are other parts of Virtue, as Temperance, Justice, and many others? , don't you
also acknowledge them ?
Nic. DoubtlessIdo.
Soc. That's good, we are agreed upon this Point:
* Socrates would prove, that Virtue being one, he, w h o has
not all the parts that compose it, cannot brag of being vir tuous. m T
003 Let
? ? ai$
Ladies: Or, of Vahw.
Let us go then to thoie things which you call ter
rible? ,andwhereinyoufayaManmayshewsome
A s s u r a n c e a n d C o n f i d e n c e ; let u s e x a m i n e t h e m w e l l ,
lest it happen that you understand them one w a y a n d w e a n o t h e r ? , w e a r e g o i n g t o t e l l y o u w h a t w e
thinkofthem. Ifyoudon'tagreewithusyouwill correctus. We believethethingswhichyou call
terrible are iuch as inspire People with Terror and Fear? ,andthatthosewhereinyousaywemay shew
some Assurance are such as do not inspire us with thatFear: Now thosethatcauseFear,areneither things that have already happened, nor things that actuallyhappen,butsuchaswe expectj forFear
isonlytheExpectationofanEviltocome. Are notyouofthisOpinion,Laches? >>-:<<? ? ? -> *? -
Lac. Yes,yesperfectly.
Soc. ThisthenisourSentiment,Nicks. Bythose things that are terrible, we understand the Evils to come j and by the things wherein one may shew some assurance, we understand those things which arealsotocome, and which appear good, or,at least,don'tappeartobeil* Do youadmitourDe> finition or not? > ,;. . . :. -.
Nic. Yes, yes, I admit it.
Soc. Then it is the Knowledge ofthose things whichyoucallValour? . ? . -. . <? ? ;<?
